Barry Eitel
09 October 2015•Update: 10 October 2015
By Barry Eitel
SAN FRANCISCO
Facebook announced Thursday that it will test a feature that allows users to express several emotions.
The move is in response to years of user requests to expand its iconic “Like” button option.
With the new feature, called Reactions, users can choose animated emoticons to show seven emotions, including differentiating between “Liking” and “Loving” a post. They can also communicate that they are saddened, angered, surprised, content or humored by a post. The options appear when a user hovers over the Like button in a Web browser or holds down the button on a mobile device.
The test is rolling out Thursday in Ireland and Spain, but chief product officer Chris Cox noted in the announcement that the company is working on releasing Reactions worldwide.
“We studied which comments and reactions are most commonly and universally expressed across Facebook, then worked to design an experience around them that was elegant and fun,” said Cox.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said last month that the social media site was expanding its Like button, causing many users to speculate that a “Dislike” button was in the works.
Ever since the Like button was added to Facebook in 2009, many have called for another option to show either dissatisfaction or empathy in case they disagreed with a post or if a friend passed away, for example.
Facebook refused to give in to the demand, opting instead to promote positivity. Also, on the business end, negative options were disliked by digital advertisers. Facebook is now testing whether a Reaction’s middle ground will succeed.
“Reactions gives you new ways to express love, awe, humor and sadness,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “It's not a dislike button, but it does give you the power to easily express sorrow and empathy – in addition to delight and warmth,” he added.
